Carton



May 17, 1938. w. REAUME 2,117,678

CARTON Filed No). 11, 1957 INVENTOR E; BY Jan ravine [44 7 3 41176.

A TTORNE Y5.

Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES CARTON Lawrence W. Beaume, Monroe,Mich, assignor to River Raisin Paper Company, Monroe, Micln, acorporation of Michigan Application November 11, 1937, Serial No.173,967

Claims.

The present invention relates to cartons of the type which are formedfrom cardboard or other laminated paper material, and particularly tocartons of the type mentioned which are adapted to hold beverage bottlesand the like.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide acarton of the type mentioned which may be conveniently and speedilyhandled both when full and when empty.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton of thetype mentioned which has half top members, for closing the top of thecarton, disposed centrally of the carton and extending in oppositedirections to opposite carton walls.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simplifiedcarton structure of the type mentionedwhich has a longitudinallyextending reinforcing member disposed centrally of the carton in whichthe tops of the reinforcing member extend sidewardly in oppositedirections from each other and form the top of the carton for closingthe top thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means forproviding the top of the carton in which the edges of the top adjacentthe sides also serve to reinforce the carton longitudinally thereof whenthe top is closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton having a specialhand hole positioned centrally of the members forming the top of thecarton for lifting the carton when the cover members are open.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved carton of thetype mentioned which is simple in construction, light in weight, andrugged, so that it will withstand rough usage.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingspecification, the drawing relating thereto, and from the claimshereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, in which like numerals are used to designate like partsin the several views throughout:

Figure l is a perspective view of a carton, showng one half of thecarton top opened and the other half closed, embodying features of thepresent invention Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modified form of thepresent invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantialy along the line 6-6of Fig. 5.

Cartons of the type to which the present invention is directed areparticularly adapted to hold beverage bottles and the like. The cartonsused for beverage bottles are subjected to rough usage and are returnedto the bottler and re peatedly used. When filled with bottles containinga fluid, the contents of the carton are quite heavy and it is essentialthat the carton have sufficient strength to sustain the load even whenthe entire carton is lifted by means of a hand hole in one end wallthereof. This is necessary in view of the practice of truckers ofpicking up two filled cartons, one in each hand, by engaging with eachhand a hand hole in one end of a carton. Cartons of this type are alsosubjected to hard usage as the cartons are constantly being shifted fromone position to another during their lives. Because of the nature of theuse to which the cartons are put in which frequent handling isnecessary, the cartons are so constructed as to facilitate ease andspeed in handling.

According to the present invention, a carton is provided which may bereadily handled both when full and when empty, or when full with the topmembers opened. Also according to the present invention, a simplifiedstructure is provided in which a longitudinally extending centerreinforcing member is provided which is of such a construction that theendsand the hand holes in the ends are strengthened and in which the topmembers for closing the top are formed integral with the reinforcingmember. Also according to one of the embodiments of the presentinvention, the center reinforcing member also forms the end walls ofthe. container as well as thetop opening and closing members.

Referring to the drawing and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inwhich one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, the mainbody portion of the carton is preferably formed of a single sheet oflaminated paper or card'- board, provided with a plurality of parallelcrease lines which divide the sheet into a side wall ill, a

bottom wall i2, and a side wall H. The sides In v and I4 are provided,respectively, with end fiaps I5 and I6; and the bottom wall i2 isprovided with corresponding flaps i1. material is folded in the formshown, end walls III are secured to the flaps l5, l6 and i! by anysuitable means, such as staples l9, thus completing the main bodyportion of the carton. As best shown inFig. 3, the side walls l0 and Hare provided with flaps and 2| respectively, which are bent downwardlywithin the box and secured against their respective side walls so as toreinforce the upper longitudinal edges of the carton. As shown in Fig.2, the end walls l8 are also provided at their upper edges with a pairof flaps 22, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.- 7 I The cartonmay be provided with the usual interlocking cross-partitioning members24 and longitudinal partition members 25, which divide When the sheetor.

the box into a plurality of compartments, each adapted to receive asingle bottle or receptacle.

According to the present invention a longitudinal partition member,generally indicated at 38, is provided which extends longitudinally ofthe carton midway of the sides In and 14. This partition member ispreferably formed of a single sheet of laminated paper material and isfolded along its lower edge to provide a pair of upstanding partitionmembers 3! and 32. These upstanding partition members are preferablysecured together by any suitable means such as staples 33. The ends ofthe partition member 3| are provided with a pair of flaps and the endsof the partition member 32 are provided with similar flaps 36. Theseflaps are bent at rightangles to the partition members 3| and 32 intothe plane of the end walls l8, whereby the flaps 22 on the top edges ofthe end walls are folded over the flaps 35 and 36 and secured by meansof staples 38 to the flaps 35 and 36 and the end walls 18. The flaps 22are each provided with slots substantially at their transverse centersso that the partitioning members 3| and 32 are received within the slotsand the flaps 22 may be bent downwardly against the end wall. By thismeans, the partition 30 is fixedly secured to the end walls of thecarton. The partition has substantial stiffness and strength and thusforms a strong reinforcement for the entire box and particularly for theend walls.

The reinforcing action of the partition 38 is important in view of thefact that the end walls are provided with the usual hand holes 39, bymeans of which the carton may be grasped and lifted. The hand hole ispreferably so arranged that it is located entirely within the areacovered by the flaps 35 and 36 which have complementary openingstherethrough so that the hand hole is formed in a double thickness ofmaterial. In

' addition, the flaps 22 on the top edges of the end walls are of suchlength that, when bent over the flaps 35 and 36, their extremities liealong the top edges of the hand hole 39, thus additionally reinforcingthe end wall at this point. This arrangement gives a triple thickness ofrelatively still, strong material above the hand hole, at which pointthe greatest load is applied. Accordingly, it is possible to lift afully loaded carton with one hand by means of the hand hole provided atone end wall without injuring or unduly straining the carton in any way.

Also, according to the present invention, the sheet of material formingthe partitioning member 38 has oppositely and sidewardly extending halftop portions 48 and 42 formed integral therewith. The half top portions48 and 42 have their outer ends bent to provide flaps 44 and 46,respectively, which are adapted to fit' within and bear against theflaps 2i] and 2|, respectively, of the side walls I0 and 14,respectively, when the top members are closed.

Each of the half top members 40 and 42 is provided with a hand hole 50at substantially the longitudinal center of the top members and adjacentthe flaps 44 and 46, respectively. The hand holes 58 are aligned whenthe top members are in their open and upwardly extended positions sothat a single hand hole of double thickness is provided for convenientlytransporting the carton when the tops are open.

In forming the hand holes 39 and 58, it is possible to entirely removethe material of the members through which the hand holes are formed; butit is preferable to leave the material of the members partiallyconnected to the members, thus providing flaps 52 for the hand holes 39and flaps 54 for the hand holes 58. These flaps normally serve to closethe hand holes and prevent the admission of light to the contents of thecarton. This is particularly desirable when the carton is to he used fortransporting beer bottles, inasmuch as beer can only be kept properly inthe dark. The material which forms the flaps is made of sufllcientstiffness and resiliency to cause the flaps to swing back into closedposition after they have been displaced therefrom.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawing, a modified embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in which the usual end pieces areeliminated and the flaps on the ends of the central longitudinalpartition form the ends of the carton. As shown in these figures, thecentral longitudinal partition generally indicated at 88 extends fromthe top edge to the bottom of the carton and is folded double along itslower edge with the folded edge substantially flush with the bottom ofthe carton. The partition 88 thus provides upstanding partitioningmembers 8! and 84 having their facing surfaces flush against each other.The layer 8! is bent at its end to form end flaps 82 and 83; while thelayer 84 has corresponding flaps 85 and 86. The flaps 82, 83, 85 and 86are of the full height of the carton and of substantially one-half thewidth of the carton, with the result that. the flaps 82 and 85 togetherform one end of the carton while the flaps 83 and 86 together form theopposite end of the carton. These end flaps 82, 83, 85 and 86 aresecured in any suitable manner as by staples 81 to flaps 88 on the sidewalls of the carton, and flaps 89 on the bottom wall in a manner similarto that in which the end walls l8 of the carton shown in Figs. 1 to 3are secured in position. The upper edges of the flaps 82, 83, 85 and 86may be bent inwardly at 8'! to provide a double thickness along theupper edge and be secured by staples 88'.

The flaps 89 on the bottom walls prevent separation of the lower ends ofthe flaps 82 and 85, as well as separation of the bottom of flaps 83 and86. Additional staples 89' suitably located, also secure the members 8|and 84 of the partitioning member 88 together at their upper and sideedges so that these members and the end flaps cannot separate.

The upper edges of the members 8| and 84 are bent sidewardly in oppositedirection from each other to provide half top members 48 and 42, whichare similar to those in the embodiments described above. These half topmembers 40 and 42 also have edge flaps 44 and 46 which are adapted to bereceived within and bear against the side walls 84 and respectively asin the embodiment described above. Hand holes 50 with theircorresponding flaps 54 are also provided in the half top members 48 and42 as in the embodiment described above.

Partitioning members 98 are also provided which are adapted to bepositioned within the carton for forming separate compartments for thebottles or receptacles contained within the carton.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the inventiondescribed without departing from the spirit and substance of theinvention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cardboard carton having side walls, end

walls, and a bottom wall ani al together to form a box'structure. saidend walls being provided with hand holds for lifting the carton, areinfording member extending longitudinally of the carton intermediatethe side walls. and being secured to the end walls to reinforce thesame, said reinforcing member having sidewardly directed top portionsformed integral therewith.

2. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wallconnected together to form a box structure, said end walls beingprovided with hand holds for lifting the carton, a reinforcing memberextending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls andbeing secured to the end walls to reinforce the same, said reinforcingmember having oppositely and sidewardly directed half top portionsformed integral therewith, and flapsion'said half top portions adaptedto engage the side walls when the half top portions are closed.

3. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wallconnected together to form a box structure, said end walls beingprovided with hand holds for lifting the carton, a reinforcing memberextending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls andbeing secured to the end walls to reinforce the same, said reinforcingmember having sidewardly directed half top portions formed integraltherewith, flaps on said half top portions adapted to engage said sidewalls when the half top portions are closed, and aligned hand holdsformed in said half top portions adjacent said flaps at substantiallythe longitudinal center of said box structure.

4. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wallconnected together to form a box structure, said end walls beingprovided with hand holds for lifting the carton, a reinforcing memberextending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls andbeing secured to the end walls to reinforce the same, said reinforcingmember having oppositely and sidewardly directed half to'p portionsformed integral therewith, and hand holds formed in said half topportions, said hand holds being aligned when said top portions aredirected upwardly.

5. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wallconnected together to form a box structure, said end walls beingprovided with hand holds for lifting the carton, a cardboard reinforcingmember extending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the sidewalls, said cardboard reinforcing member having end portions bent intothe plane of the end walls and secured thereto to reinforce the latter,said reinforcing member also having oppositely and sidewardly directedhalf top portions formed integral therewith, and flaps on said half topportions adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the side walls when thehalf top portions areclosed.

6. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wallconnected together to form a box structure, said end walls beingprovided with hand holds for lifting the carton, a reinforcing memberextending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls, saidreinforcing member having end portions bent into the plane of the endwall and secured thereto to reinforce-the latter, half top members onsaid reinsa atnf.

" forcing member oppositely and sidewardly directed, flaps on said halftop members adapted to engage the inner surfaces of said side members ofsaid side walls when said top members are closed. said end portions ofsaid reinforcing member, said half top portions and said flaps beingformed of a single sheet of cardboard.

7. A cardboard carton having side walls and a bottom wall connectedtogether, a reinforcing member of double thickness extending verticallyand longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls, saidmember having its ends bent into the planes of the ends of the cartonrespectively to form the end walls of the carton, one of said end wallsbeing provided with a hand engaging device for lifting the carton, saidreinforcing member having sidewardly and oppositely directed topportions formed integral therewith.

8. A cardboard carton having side walls and a bottom wall connectedtogether, a reinforcing member extending vertically and longitudinallyof the carton intermediate the side walls. said member having its endsbent into the planes of the ends of the carton respectively, meanscooperating with said bent ends to secure the bent ends in said planesand complete the end walls of said carton, one of said end walls beingprovided with a hand engaging device for lifting the carton, saidreinforcing member having oppositely and sidewardly directed half topportions formed integral therewith, and flaps on said half top portionsadapted to engage the side walls when the half top portions are closed.

9. A cardboard carton having side walls and a bottom wall connectedtogether, a reinforcing member formed of sheet material and extendingvertically and longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side wallsfor substantially the depth and height of the carton, said member havingits ends bent into the planes of the ends of the carton respectively to,provide the end walls, means connecting the bent ends to the side walls,one of said end walls being provided with a hand engaging device forlifting the carton, said reinforcing member having oppositely andsidewardly directed half top portions formed integral therewith, andflaps on said half top portions adapted to engage the inner surfaces ofsaid side walls, said reinforcing .member, the bent ends of saidreinforcing member, the half top portions, and the flaps being formed ofa single sheet of cardboard.

10. A cardboard carton having side walls and a bottom wall connectedtogether, a reinforcing member formed of sheet material and extendingvertically and longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls,said member having its ends bent into the planes of the ends of thecartons respectively to provide the end walls, means connecting the bentends to the side walls, said end walls being provided with hand holdsfor lifting the carton, said reinforcing member having oppositely andsidewardly directed half top portions formed integral therewithlongitudinally thereof, and flaps on said half top portions adapted toengage said side walls when the half top portions are closed, said halftop portions being provided with hand holds adjacent said flaps whichare aligned when the half top portions are directed upwardly and open.

